SJU: Health Administration

Students in Health Administration may pursue courses of study leading either to the Master of Science in Health Administration with concentration options or a Post-Master's Certificate. The M.S. program is structured primarily for health care professionals with considerable experience in the health delivery system who are interested in the management and administrative aspects of health organizations and the health system. The M.S. curricula presupposes no previous academic training in business. The M.S. in Health Administration curricula are designed to provide the technical and behavioral competencies as defined by the Health Leadership Competency Model, Version 2 developed by the National Center for Healthcare Leadership (NCHL, 2005). The coursework focuses on the following content areas as defined by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME, 2006) to assist students to apply knowledge and skills to the management of the environment, processes of patient care, and/or population health.

Population health and status assessment
Health policy formulation,implementation,and evaluation
Organization development/organization behavior theory and application
Structural analysis of healthcare organizations,performance evaluation,and redesign
Operations assessment and improvement
Management of human resources and health professionals
Information systems management and assessment
Legal principles development,application,and assessment
Governance: structure,roles,responsibilities,and alignment to leadership
Leadership: visioning,change management and team development
Written,verbal,and interpersonal communication skills
Statistical analysis and application
Economic analysis and application to business decision making
Market analysis,research,and assessment
Financial analysis and management
Business and clinical ethical decision-making
Strategy formulation and implementation
Quality assessment for patient care improvement
Professional skills development

Each concentration has variations in emphasis based on the mission of the curriculum. Moreover, the methods for assessing assimilation of knowledge, skill, and behaviors is operationalized in different ways. Program assessment takes a variety of forms-case study preparation, tests, oral presentations, syntheses, field learning performance, etc.

The M.S. program courses are also offered on our two extension campuses at Ursinus College, and Albert Einstein Health Network. (See Graduate Programs at Other Locations under General Information for contact persons.)

ACCEPTANCE AND ENROLLMENT

The Committee on Admissions will decide whether applicants' scholastic record and general background indicate sufficient ability for graduate study. As noted above, the Committee may require submission of scores of the Graduate Record Examination in doubtful cases. Students are admitted to the Graduate Program upon receipt of a formal letter of admission. Students are admitted for enrollment in the fall, spring and summer sessions.

The preferred admission period for international students is the fall semester. These applicants should apply by July 15. Immigration policies preclude interviews with most international students, therefore, the Department of Health Services reserves the right to require enrollment in ELS causes as a conclusion for matriculation.

COURSE LOAD

Since the curriculum is designed for working professionals, part-time students may take no more than two courses (six credits) for fall, spring and summer terms (six courses per year). Students who are admitted on a full-time basis and international students must carry a full schedule of not less than three courses or nine credits per term for fall and spring terms and two courses or six credits for summer term. Any exceptions to this policy must be approved one term in advance by the Director of the program in which the student is enrolled. All students should be aware that the program cannot be completed in less than two(2) academic years.

INQUIRIES

David White, Ph.D., MPH, Chair
Graduate Director of Health Administration
Health Services Department
Post Hall 110
Phone (610) 660-1582
Email dwhite@sju.edu

Welcome